Alcoholic liver disease in Iraq

ABSTRACT

Alcohol abuse is emerging as a serious cause of liver disease in Iraq. In a prospective study of 72 patients, liver injury was related to the amount and duration of alcohol consumption. Hepatomegaly was found in 79% and stigmata of liver disease in half the patients. Abnormal liver functions were not specific but a high SGOT/SGPT ratio was found in 34% of patients. Gastroscopy demonstrated varices, thus confirming chronic liver disease, in 63% of patients, and revealed various types of gastro-duadenal mucosal lesions in half the patients. Liver biopsy confirmed alcohol-associated liver pathology in all patients. Among other associated diseases, ten patients had diabetes mellitus and two had alcoholic cardiomyopathy which suggest that alcohol abuse can cause multi-system injury